Photographic camera



Nov. 26, 1946. R. P. BXEATTIE ETAL rnowoamrnzc CAMERA Filed March 12, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 26, 1946. R. P. BEATTIE EI'AL PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA Filed March 12, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 26, 1946. R. P. BEATTIE ETAL 2,411,704

PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA Filed March 12, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 TLIIIIL \ITIII lllllll tF ii--- ILIL Patented Nov. 26,}946

- omen 'srATs-s PATENT OFFICE j auihoo g I Roland r. more," Kenneth .w. Beattie, Kenneth B. Beattie, and Roland 'P. Boattie, 11,

Summit, N. J.

Application March 12. 194:, Serial N... 478,858

This invention relates to a photographic camera. and particularly a process camera adapted for copying and makinglina screen and continuous tone negatives; enlargements or reductions from copy suitable for such reproduction. 6

for instance, at an army field headquarters or' other post.

All iurther object is to provide the camera with a housing uch that it maybe closed and packed for transportation without danger of damage to the working parts and without the need tor dis 1 5 is movable with respect to the housing for regulating the degree of enlargement or reduction (iieny) of copy mounted in said housing; said unit also being removable from the housing for use as a view camera or 101' reproducing large copy.

10mm; (case-24 along the line IX-IX '01 Fig. 8, looking in the direction orthe arrows;

Fig. 10 represents. a horizontal section. taken along the line JI-Xoi Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 11 representsa detail perspective view of a reducing and enlarging cone, in enlarging position on the top or the camera.

Referring to the drawings, a main camera housing I is provided, having three closed sides and a front opening door 2 in its fourth side. The top of the housing comprises a rectangular frame 3 .iitting closely around the four sides or an inner telescopic unit 4 which is adapted to move vertically in and out of the housing, being guided in such movement by the strips 6 sliding in guide-ways 6.

Ihe unit 4 is mechanically raised and towered by a rack and gear drive including the racks l, which may be disposed adjacent each of the four corners of the unit, the small gears 3, shown as being formed directly in the shafts 9, the bevel gears ill, and the crank iilccated at a convenient point on the outside of the housing. The shafts A further nbject i to provide such 9 am 9 are journal'ed in suitable Supp'OI'tS on the hulls- Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the cam- 5 era and its housing in closed position;

Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the camera and its housing partly opened;

Fig. 3 represents a perspective view'oi the camera and its housing opened and ready for use,, parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the main camera and housing units;

Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4 looking in the direction oi the arrows;-

Fig. 6 represents a detail horizontal section taken along the line VI--VI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 represents an end elevation of the main camera and housing units, parts being broken away to show certain interior construction;

Fig. 8 represents a detail elevation of .the camera elevating and lowering mechanism;

ing and the arrangement is such that power is transmitted to a plurality of points around the inner unit, to avoid binding of the unit against parts of the housing; although in some cases it may be found that driving at a single point or lessthan four points gives satisfactory results.

In addition to the hand crank it it is also desirable to provide a vernier adjustment of the camera back unit (for microiocuslng), shown in detail in Figs. 8, 9 and iii, comprising a shaft it,

journaled for rotation and rocking. motion in secured to the side of the housing and is urged toward worm-engaging position by the action of a compression spring is having one end secured to the bracket and the other end secured to a collar 2o fitted loosely aboutthe shaft. A finger operated spring lock 21 is also associated with the shaft l2 and is arranged to snap over one end of the bracket for holding the shaft positively in worm-engaging position when the vernier Fig. 9 represents a horizontal section taken drive is to be used, or when it is desired to lock 4 3 p the raising and lowering mechanism, the worman'd-wheel drive being" irreversible. when it is desired to operate the crank ii for fast driving, the lock 2| is released and the shaft i2 rocked to compressthe spring l9 and to disengage the worm I4 from th wheel It.

The inner telescopic unit 4 includes a suitable rectangular framework, four side walls 22 and a top board 23 provided with a rectangular opening 24. The guide strips are secured to the outside of two opposite side walls, and vertical grooved guide-ways 25 are secured to the inside of opposite side walls for guiding, by engagement with the short tongues 25', the ends 23 of a horizontally disposed lens elevator 21. The camera lens 23 is mounted in thelens board 23 (removably secured in the elevator) and a bellows extends from the lens board to the top board 23, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7. The top board is adapted to receive and support a plate or film holder with or without a ground glass focusing plate, all indicated generally at 3!.

Raising and lowering of the lens elevator 21 in the unit 4 (for lens focusing) is eflected by means of the chains 32, fastened to the elevator ends 23 by brackets 33, and running over idle sprockets 34 and driving sprockets 33; the latter being mounted on a shaft 38 which projects out of one side of the unit and is provided with a handle or knob 31. The sprockets 34 and 35 are all mounted on suitable supports attached to the side walls or frame of the unit 4.

The housing I is provided with lamps 33, preferably of fluorescent type, shielded by the curved reflecting shields 39, for illuminating copy which may be placed on the removable copy board adjacent the bottom of the housing. An electric control panel 4| is mounted in one side of the housing at a convenient point, the control panel including an input socket, a switch for the lamps 38, and sockets and switches for the connection and control of such auxiliary electrical appliances as may be required.

Means for completing the closure of the houssng include the combination top cover and work table 42 and the combination end door and carrying compartment 43; the cover-table 42 being hinged to the top frame 3 by hinges-44 (which may be of the loose pin type, for complete removal of the cover-table) and being provided with a foldable leg 45, hinged at 48. The door 43 has one of its end walls divided vertically into a fixed portion 4'! and a hinged portion 48, the latter portion being in turn hinged at 49 to a corner of the housing I; this arrangement being such that the door may be closed against the housing to cover and protect the vernier mechanism and control panel, or may be opened (270) to lie with its back flat against the back of the housing. The cover-table 42 is of a depth sufilcient to enclose the top of the inner unit t when the latter is in its lowest position as shown in Fig. 2, and is of a length such that it will extend over the top of the door 43, as shown in Fig. 1. The door 43 is made deep enough not only to accommodate the projecting parts of the vernier and control panel but also to provide storage and carrying space for such other equipment as plates, fllms, plate or film holders, etc-i and means are provided for securely locking the door to the main housing and the cover-table to manner.

the door (Fig. 1).

For certain purposes it may be desirable to provide an image area larger or farther from the'lens-than the opening 24 in the top board 23 of the camera unit; means fOFsEflCCflDE this result is shown in Fig. 11 as comprising a four sided funnel 50, having a base 6| adapted to fit on the top board 23, and an enlarged open top 42 adapted to receive a plateor film holder or a ground glass focusing plate indicated generally at 83.

The operation of the camera just described will be obvious, for the most part. Briefly, the device may be set up for operation by opening the cover-table 42 and end door 43 and plugging an electric connection into the input socket. Copy to be reproduced may then be placed on the copy board 40, suitably illuminated by the lamps 38, and necessary adjustments made of the inner telescopic unit 4 (by means of the crank II and vernier mechanism) and lens .board 28 (by means of the handle 3'!) to ensure the proper focus and desired degree of enlargement or reduction, if any; the exposure being made by opening a shutter associated with the lens 23, or in any other customary or suitable Special lenses for various ,requirements may be inserted, so that copy (if a wide range of sizes, from microfilm up, can be handled.

As will be apparent from Figs. 3 to '7, the inner telescopic unit 4 is retained in the housing only by the engagement of the racks I with the gears 8; it is thus possible to remove the inner unit from the housing so that it may be used in any position or location as a view camera, or may be set up to photograph copy which is too large to flt on the copy board 40 in the housing.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the scope of our invention and hence we do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but what we claim is: p

.A photographic camera of the character described comprising, a housing, an inner telescopic unit fitted in the top of said housing and projecting therefrom, means for adjusting said unit inwardly and outwardly through the top of the housing, said inner unit containing the photographic elements of the camera proper, and means associated with the housing for enclosing and protecting the projecting part of said inner unit, said last named means including a recessed door hinged vertically to the housing, and a recessed element hinged horizontally to the housing, said door being adapted to constitute a storage compartment and to close over exposed parts of the means for adjusting the inner unit, and said element being adapted, in its closed position, to cover both the top of said housing and the top of said door and, in its open position, to constitute a recessed work table.

, ROLAND P,'BEATIIE.

KENNETH W. BEA'IIIE. KENNETH B. BEATIIE. ROLAND P. BEATIZE, II. 

